Donald Trump Intends to Use National Guard as ‘Deportation Force’

Toronto – The Trump administration is contemplating an executive order which would authorize the use of National Guard personal to round up illegal immigrants, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The White is quickly denying reports of a new executive order which would, in effect, authorize an “unprecedented militarization” to remove illegal immigrants.

The Associated Press (AP) said it has received a draft copy of a new executive order, reportedly written by US Homeland Security Secretary, John Kelly. Press secretary, Sean Spicer, was immediate in his denial, saying in an email to the Huffington Post that the report is “100% false. There is no effort to use the National Guard to round up.”

According to the report filed by AP, the draft memo comprises 11 pages and claims that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been circulating the draft for approximately two weeks. It would authorize National Guard troops “to perform the functions of an immigration officer in relation to the investigation, apprehension and detention of aliens in the United States.”

The draft stipulates that eleven states would be targeted including, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Presumably as a safeguard, governors of those states would have final approval about the use of National Guard troops.

If proven to be an executive order truly in the making, it would fulfill yet another of Trump’s immigration promises during his election campaign. In August, during a speech in Arizona, Trump promised to “triple the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officers” and “create a new special deportation task force focused on identifying and quickly removing the most dangerous criminal illegal immigrants in America who have evaded justice.”

The recent increase in deportation of illegal immigrants in the US has prompted real fear of the potential creation of a “deportation force” like the one described in the executive order draft given to AP. It should be noted that Trump’s administration has talked about executive orders before without them coming to fruition. The report from the Associated Press is careful to state only that the order is being considered.

That hasn’t stopped Sean Spicer from stating publicly “it is irresponsible to be saying this,” while speaking with reporters on board Air Force One on Friday. He then went on to declare whatever document AP was claiming to have obtained, did not come from the White House.

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